Labeling machine



Aug. 31, 1943. G w. VON HOFE LABELING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 27, 1941 11\' L EN TOR. l l l/o/vb o/r BY A TTO/P/VEY 1943- G. w.VON HOFE 2,328,516

/ LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (750465 14 V0/V//0F' 2 Mike-4 A TTORNEY LABELING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 19413 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. GEOEGE vo/v //0F A TTOE/VEY Patented Aug. 31,1943 LABELING MACHINE George W. von Hofe, Bound Brook, N. J., as-

signor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, H- boken, N. J., a corporationof New Jersey Application November 27, 1941, Serial No. 420,609

8 Claims.

The invention relates to labeling machines and has for its object toprovide a machine of the indicated type which is simple in constructionand of maximum efliciency in operation.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel transportingmeans whereby the labels are carried or transported into applyingrelation to the article to be labeled, and which co-operates in a novelmanner with a novel adhesive applying means to effect the application ofadhesive in a predetermined manner to the labels carried by saidtransporting means. In addition the invention has for its object toprovide a labeling machine in which the trans-- porting meansco-operates with a pressure or clamping means to effect the applicationof the labels to the articles in recurrent accurate relation thereto.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and thefeatures of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of theinvention without defining its limits,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a labelingmachine in which the novel features are embodied;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic front view illustrating the novel suction headof the transporting means and the suction control mean therefor;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section, and

Fig. 5 is a rear face view of a label or other element with the adhesiveapplied thereto.

The machine selected for the purpose of illustrating the novel featuresincludes a suitable frame [0 on which a container or hopper H of anyconventional type is supported in any convenient manner for the purposeof containing a supply of labels or other elements l2 preferably in theform of an upright supply stack. Generally speaking the bottom of thecontainer II is vertically adjustable by means of suitable elevatingmechanism automatically controlled in a manner to periodically restorethe upper end of the stack of labels or other elements l2 to apredetermined level. For this purpose the machine may include a feelerI3 vertically slidable in an upright guide l4 and connected by means ofa link l5 with a bell-crank lever l6 pivoted at I! upon-the frame It).The lever I6 carries a roller l8 adapted to be acted on by a cam i9 tovertically actuate the feeler I3 in operative synchronism with the meanswhereby the labels or other elements l2 are successively removed fromthe stack in the container II; the cam I9 is carried by a shaft suitablyjo-urnalled in the machine.

The transporting means whereby individual labels or other elements l2are successively removed from the upper end of the supply stack andtransferred therefrom for adhesive application to the articles for whichthe labels or other elements are designed consists of a carriage 2|slidably mounted upon a fixed guide rail 22 conveniently supported onthe frame It) as shownin Fig. 1. Suitable means of conventional type isprovided for slidably reciprocating the carriage 2| on the rail 22 and,as shown, comprises an arm 23 fixed on the shaft 20 and having its freeend pivotally connected with a coupling rod 24 which in turn isyieldingly and pivotally connected at 25 with the carriage 2|. It willbe understood that the shaft 20 is rocked on its axis in properly timedrelation with the other elements of the machine in any convenient andwell-known manner for instance as shown in my Patent No. 2,227,816 ofJanuary '7, 1941.

In addition to the parts so far described the transporting meansincludes means on the carriage 2| and operated at the opposite ends ofthe reciprocatory movements thereof to respectively pick up successivelabels or other elements l2 from the supply stack and to transport saidlabels or other elements [2 into applying relation to the articles forwhich the labels or other elements l2 are designed. As shown in the.drawings, the aforesaid means consists of a carrier or member 26suitably mounted on the carriage 2| for vertical reciprocation thereonand provided at its lower end with a suction head 21. The latter is ofnovel construction and includes two members 28 located in spacedparallel relation to each other and provided with perforations in theirlower surfaces. The suction head 21 including the members 28 thereof ishollow and is connected with a suitable source of suction, for instance,in the following manner. For the purpose of controlling the suction inthe suction head 2'l- 28 in the predetermined manner a flexible tube 29or its equivalent is connected with one side of a valve casing 30supported upon the frame In in any convenient manner; a second flexibletube 3| or its equivalent leads from the other. side of the valve 30 toa source of suction such as a pump or the like. The valve casing 30includes an opening which is controlled by a valve 33 carried by one armof a bell-crank lever 34 pivoted at 35 upon a bracket 36 fixed upon theframe ID, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 3; a suitably mounted spring31 is provided for shifting the valve 33 to its open position at theproper time in the operation of the mechanism. The other arm of thebell-crank lever 34 extendsbetween two adjustable projections shown inthe form of screws 38 carried by lugs 39 forming part of or secured to atripping member 40 the lower forked end 4| of which straddles a shaft 42of the machine. The member 40 carries a roller 43 in operativeengagement with a cam 44 fixed upon the shaft 42, a suitable spring 45being provided for maintaining the roller 43 in engagement witi the cam44. The cam 44 is of suitable contour to raise and lower the trippingmembe 4D in a manner to operate the valve 33 in accordance with thepredetermined results desired and said tripping member 48 is guided inits vertical movements in any suitable manner.

For the purpose of maintaining the carrier 26 against downward movementon the carriage 2| throughout predetermined portions of its reciprocatedmovements. the carrier 26 is provided at its upper end with rollers 46and 41 located upon opposite sides of a lug 48 projecting upwardly fromthe carrier 26. The arrangement is such that the roller 46 travels inrolling engagement with the upper or traction surface of a stationarysupporting rail 49 suitably supported in the machine, while at the sametime the roller 41 travels in rolling engagement with the upper ortraction surface of a movable supporting rail 50. The rail 49 is formedin its upper edge with recesses and 52 located in predetermined relationrespectively to the stack of labels or other elements l2 and to theapplying station at which the labels or other elements |2 are applied toarticles A. The latter are supported in label receiving position on asuitable support 53 located in a conventional manner at the applyingstation of the machine. The movable rail 50 is of sufficient length toextend throughout the path of movement of the suction head 2|--28 and iscarried by one or more arms 54 fixed upon a shaft 55 suitably mounted inthe machine and having an operating lever 56 mounted thereon. The lever56 is operatively connected in any convenient manner with conventionalmechanism operating in properly timed relation with the other elementsof the machine to rock the shaft 55 and thereby raise and lower the rail50 to correspondingly operate the carrier 26 and suction head 21-28 onthe carriage 2|; an example of the aforesaid arrangement is shown in myPatent No. 2,227,816 previously mentioned herein.

As the labels or other elements l2 are transported over the path to theapplying station, said labels receive applications of adhesive in theform of strips a located along opposite edges or at other predeterminedportions thereof, for instance, as shown in Fig. 5. The machineaccordingly includes adhesive applying means consisting of adhesiveapplying rolls 5'! located in spaced relation to each other and fixedupon a shaft 58 suitably mounted in the machine. The applying rolls 5!are located in adhesive receiving relation to a co-operating pair ofadhesive distributing rolls or to a single distributing roll 59 whichdips into a supply of adhesive in any well-known way. The adhesiveapplying rolls 5! are located in registry with those parts of theaforesaid path traversed by the members 28 of the suction head 21 asindicated in Fig. 2. Any suitable means may be provided for operatingthe adhesive applying means.

For co-operation with the transporting means and more specifically withthe suction head 21 28 in the application of the labels to the articlesA in the manner to be more fully pointed out hereinafter, the machineincludes a pressure means operated in predetermined synchronism with theother elements of the machine. In its illustrated form the pressuremeans comprises a pressure member 60 preferably provided on its activeface with a pad or cushion 6| and carried by a plunger 62 slidablymounted in a guideway 63 forming part of or suitably supported on theframe l0. Suitable provision is made for slidably operating the plunger62 and its associated elements in the guideway 63. Inthe illustratedexample a lever 64 is loosely mounted on the shaft 20 and has its freeend 65 pivotally or movably connected with the plunger 62. The mechanismwhereby the lever 64 is pivotally rocked may include a member 66adjustably connected at 61 with the lever 64 and itself controlled andoperated for instance in the manner illustrated and described in myPatent No. 2,227,816 referred to hereinbefore.

In practice, assuming that in Fig. 1 the parts are shown in position atthe so-called label applying station of the machine subsequent to thedepositing of a label |2 upon an article A, the shaft 55 will be rockedin properly timed relation with the other elements of the machine, bythe lever 56 and its operating mechanism in a direction to wing the armor arms 54 and the movable supporting rail 50 in an upward direction. Alifting action will thereby be exerted on the roller 41 to raise thecarrier 26 and with it the suction head 2|-28 on the carriage 2| to aposition above that illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the active faces ofthe members 28 of the suction head 21 are at a level higher than that ofthe adhesive applying rolls 5!.

As the shaft 20 is now rocked on its axis, the lever 23 will be swung tothe right in Fig. 1 and by means of the coupling rod 24 will slidablypull the carriage 2| in the same direction lengthwise of the rail 22 toa position in which the members 28 of the suction head 21 will belocated above and in registry with the upper end of the stack of labels|2 in the container During these operative steps, the cam |9 partakes ofthe rocking movement of the shaft 29 and by acting on the roller l8 willswing the bell-crank lever IS in a direction to raise thefeeler l3 awayfrom the upper end of the supply stack of labels l2 to an inoperativeposition in which it does not interfere with the subsequent actuation ofthe suction head 21 and its members 28 in the removal of a terminallabel |2 from said supply stack.

As the carriage 2| is thus slidably moved to the right on the guide rail22, the roller 41 will travel lengthwise of the elevated supporting rail50 to maintain the carrier 26 in a raised position on the carriage 2|,in which raised position the active faces of the members 28 of thesuction head 21 are at a common level higher than the adhesive applyingrollers 51 and accordingly do not contact therewith. At the end of thissliding movement toward the right the roller 46 will be above and inregistry with the recess 5| of the stationary supporting rail 49 withthe roller 41 still in rolling engagement with the elevated supportingrail 50. At the proper moment the shaft 55 will be rocked in a directionto swing the arm or arms 54 downwardly to thereby lower the supportingrail 50 and with it the carrier 26 on the carriage 2I'. At this stagethe roller 46 moves downwardly into the recess SI of the rail 49 and themembers 28 of the suction head 21 move into engagement with the upperend of the supply stack of labels l2 in contact with the opposite endsof the upper terminal label I2 thereof.

During these operations the shaft 42 of the machine is being rotated sothat the cam 44 in co-operation with the roller 43 and spring 45 willcause the tripping member to move downwardly. This will cause the upperprojection or screw 38 to exert a pressure on the bell-crank lever 34whereby the latter is pivotally swung in a direction to adjust the valve31 to its closed position in which the suction conduit is sealed againstthe atmosphere. A a result of this, suction will be automaticallydeveloped in the members 28 of the suction head 21 in proper operativesynchronism with the aforesaid operative steps and accordingly willcause the opposite ends of the terminal label I2 of the supply stack toadhere to the active faces of said members 28.

When this suction connection between the opposite ends of the terminallabel I2 and the members 28 of the suction head 21 has been established,the shaft 55 and arm or arms 54 will be rocked in a direction to elevatethe supporting rail 50 and roller 4! to thereby raise the carrier 26 andsuction head 21 with the terminal label I2 adhering to and spanning thespace between the members 28 of said suction head 21, and toconcurrently lift the roller out of the recess 5| to the level of thetraction surface of the stationary supporting rail 49. At this stage,the mechanism will be operated to slidably shift the carriage 2| alongthe guide rail 22 toward the left in Fig. 1, the roller 46 meanwhiletraversing the fixed supporting rail 49 to thereby maintain the carrier26 and its associated parts in the aforesaid raised position as thecarriage 2I travels along the guide rail 22 in the indicated manner. Inthe meantime the associate roller 4'! may travel along the supportingrail 50 or the latter may be moved downwardly and away from said roller41 at the beginning of the aforesaid operations.

In this position of the parts, the lowest surface of the label I2carried by the members 28 of the suction head 21 is at the level of theadnesive applying rolls 51 and accordingly at its opposite end portionswill be caused to pass over in tangential surface contact with saidadhesive applying rolls 5'! as the carriage 2I travels to the left. Thelower surface of said label I2 will therefore receive coatings ofadhesive in the forms of strips a along its opposite edges asillustrated in Fig. 5. The travel of the carriage 2| to the left in Fig.1 will finally cease and said. carriage will come to rest with theroller 46 located above and in registry with the recess 52 of thestationary supporting rail 49 and the suction head 2'! with the label I2carried by and extending between the members 28 thereof in labelapplying relation to the particular article A located on the support 53at the time.

In proper operative synchronism the shaft 55 is rocked in a direction toswing the arm 54 and supporting rail 50 downwardly to thereby lower thecarrier 26 on the carriage 2| to cause the suction head 21 or morespecifically the members 28 thereof to bring the label I2 carriedthereby into tangential relation and contact with the article A asillustrated in Fig. 3. In predetermined timing the lever 54 will beoperated to shift the plunger 52 downwardly in the guideways 63 and tobring the pad SI of the pressure member 60 into contact with the labelI2 to press the central portion of said label I2 which is not coatedwith adhesive, firmly against the article A to thereby securely fix saidlabel I2 in position on said article A.

After the pressure member 60 with its pad 5| has thus clamped the labelI2 against movement relatively to the article A, the cam 44 acting onthe roller 43 will raise the tripping member 40 to cause the lowerprojection or screw 38 to engage the bell-crank lever and swing thelatter in a direction to shift the valve 31 to its open position. Asthis occurs the suction will be relieved in the members 28 of thesuction head 21 and the opposite ends of the previously carried label I2will be released and the adhesive attachment of said label I2 to thearticle A will be completed in any conventional manner.

It is to be particularly noted that the suction is relieved to releasethe opposite ends of the label I2 after the central portion of saidlabel I2 has been firmly clamped on the article by the pressure member50 and its pad BI. Thus even though the intermediate portion of thelabel I2 is free from adhesive the label is accurately applied to thearticle A and firmly held in the predetermined position in which allsubsequent labels I2 are applied to subsequent articles A withcorresponding accuracy.

It will be understood that the arrangement may be such that the stripsof adhesive a are applied to the labels I2 in spaced parallel relationotherwise than along the opposite edges thereof.

The mechanism set forth is of maximum reliability and operation andpredetermines an accurate and uniform application of the labels I2 tothe articles A for which they are designed.

Although the present invention hasbeen described in conjunction with apreferred embodi ment, it is to be understood that'modifications andvariations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readilyunderstand. Such variations and modifications are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, the combination of a holder for a supply oflabels, a support for articles to be labeled, transporting means forremoving labels from said supply and depositing said labels upon and incontact with said articles, means for clamping said deposited labels onsaid articles, and means independent of said clamping means foreffecting the release of said labels from said transporting meanssubsequent to the clamping of said deposited labels on said articles topermit the application of said labels to said articles to be completed.

2. In a labeling machine, the combination of a holder for a supply oflabels, a support for articles to be labeled, transporting meansincluding a suction head for removing labels from said supply anddepositing said labels on said articles, pressure means for clampingsaid deposited labels on said articles, and means for relieving thesuction in said suction head subsequent to the clamping of saiddeposited labels on said articles ghereby said labels are released fromsaid suction ead.

3. In a labeling machine, the combination of a holder for a supply oflabels, a support for articles to be labeled, adhesive applying means,transporting means for transferring labels from said supply intoadhesive receiving relation to said adhesive applying means and forsubsequently depositing said labels on said articles, means for clampingsaid deposited labels on said articles, and-means for effecting therelease of said labels from said transporting means subsequent to theclamping of said deposited labels on said articles.

4. In a labeling machine, the comibnation of a holder for a supply oflabels, a support for articles to be labeled, spaced adhesive applyingrolls, transporing means including a suction head having spaced membersfor engaging terminal labels of said supply at spaced points andtransferring said labels into adhesive receiving relation to saidadhesive applying rolls to receive spaced strips of adhesive as coatingstherefrom and for subsequently depositing intermediate uncoated portionsof said labels on said articles, a pressure member for clamping saiduncoated portions of said labels on said articles, and means forrelieving the suction in said suction head subsequent to the clamping ofsaid deposited labels on said articles whereby said labels are releasedfrom the members of said suction head.

5. In a labeling machine, a suction head comprising two spaced membersof corresponding elongated form having perforated active faces fordeveloping coincidental suction grips in linear contact with spacedportions of a surface of a label, and a member connecting said spacedmembers and supporting the latter in fixed relation to each other.

6. In a labeling machine, a suction head comprising a carrying memberand spaced members of corresponding elongated form projectingtransversely from opposite ends of said carrying member in fixedtransverse relation thereto and in fixed relation to each other, saidspaced members having perforated active faces for developingcoincidental suction grips in linear contact with spaced portions of asurface of a label.

7. In a labeling machine, a suction head comprising a carrying memberand spaced members projecting from opposite ends of said carrying memberin spaced parallel relation for engaging and holding labels at spacedpoints, and adhesive applying rolls for applying strips of adhesive tosaid labels in registry with the members of said suction head.

8. In a labeling machine, a suction head comprising a carrying memberand spaced members projecting from opposite ends of said carrying memberin spaced parallel relation for engaging and holding labels at spacedpoints, adhesive applying rolls for applying strips of adhesive to saidlabels in registry with the members of said suction head, a pressuremember operative between the spaced members of said suction head forclamping adhesive free portions of said labels on articles, and meansfor relieving the suction in said suction head subsequent to theclamping of said adhesive free portions of said labels on said articleswhereby said labels are released from the spaced members of said suctionhead.

GEORGE W. VON HOFE.

